FirstUp: Netanyahu to address UNGA, Japan's ruling party to pick new leader... The big news today

It’s a busy Friday ahead.

India faces Bangladesh in the second Test match at Green Park, Kanpur. India holds a 1-0 series lead against Bangladesh.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will address the UN General Assembly today after his speech was deferred due to a major Israeli attack on Lebanon.

Japan will get its new prime minister today as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is set to hold a crucial vote today.

Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) Elections take place today to fill key positions, including president and secretary.

US Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the US-Mexico border today, her first trip since becoming the Democratic nominee.

Delhi’s newly-formed government, led by Chief Minister Atishi, will seek a trust vote in the Assembly today.

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Here’s a look at the events taking place today.

Benjamin Netanyahu to address UN amid war with two neighbours

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose scheduled speech to the UN General Assembly was postponed on Monday after his country’s deadliest strike on Lebanon since the 2006 invasion, is now expected to speak on Friday.

Netanyahu arrives at the UN at a time when both his personal credibility and that of Israel are under strain. Critics have questioned what he wants to accomplish during this visit beyond gaining attention.

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At the UN, Netanyahu is expected to argue that Israel’s actions in Gaza are justified and, as in his previous speeches, is likely to hold Iran accountable for the region’s instability.

Protests are expected to occur during his visit, especially since New York is home to Columbia University, a hotspot for recent campus protests against the violence in Gaza.

India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test match

India will face Bangladesh in the second Test match at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur, today. Both teams participated in intense practice sessions under a bright, sunny sky after arriving in Kanpur. India, led by Rohit Sharma, has already secured a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a standout performance in the first Test, taking six wickets as a dominant India defeated Bangladesh by 280 runs on the fourth day of the opening test. Against a target of 515, Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 in their second innings, with first-inning centurion Ashwin (6/88) performing the bulk of the damage.

Kanpur will be hosting its first Test match since the thrilling draw between India and New Zealand in 2021. However, it remains to be seen how the weather and pitch conditions will impact the five-day contest between India and Bangladesh.

Japan’s ruling party to choose new PM

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will hold a crucial vote today to select a new national leader, following the decision of outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to step down. The vote is limited to the LDP’s parliamentarians and dues-paying party members. Given the party’s dominance in the governing coalition, the winner is expected to become the next prime minister of Japan.

A record number of nine candidates, including two women, are contesting in what is seen as an unpredictable race. Experts warn that the new leader will need to immediately rebuild public trust to avoid the possibility of Japan returning to a pattern of short-lived governments.

The vote will be decided by LDP lawmakers and 1.1 million grassroots members, which represents less than one per cent of Japan’s eligible voters. No candidate is likely to secure a majority in the initial round due to divided support, making a runoff between the top two contenders likely.

This vote is seen as crucial for the LDP as it seeks to regain public support, following a series of scandals that have damaged Kishida’s standing.

Delhi University elections

The Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) Elections are set to take place today, September 27. The elections are being organised by the Delhi University Students Union to fill key positions, including president, vice president, secretary, and joint secretary. The candidates will be chosen through direct voting by the student body from Delhi University and its affiliated colleges.

Notable groups, including ABVP, NSUI, AISA, and FSI, will have their representatives contesting in this election. Presently, the elected officials include Tushar Dedha as President, Abhi Dahiya as Vice President, Aprajita as Secretary, and Sachin Baisla as Joint Secretary.

Ahead of election day, Delhi University’s campuses were filled with several campaign activities. Convoys featuring luxury vehicles such as Range Rovers, Thars, and other SUVs accompanied the candidates.

A walk through the DU North Campus revealed a sea of blue, yellow, orange, and white posters, banners, and hoardings displayed in every corner. A similar sight could be observed across the South Campus, where campaign posters and pamphlets covered bus stops, food stalls, roadside benches, bushes, and even plants.

Kamala Harris to visit US-Mexico border

US Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the US-Mexico border today, the White House said in an announcement. This marks her first visit to the border since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.

Harris is scheduled to travel to Douglas, Arizona, where she will address issues related to border security and promote what a campaign aide described as “the toughest bipartisan border security plan in a generation.”

The aide further said, “As a former attorney general from a border state, she took on international gangs and criminal organizations who traffic drugs, guns and human beings, and she has long believed we need an immigration system that is secure, fair, orderly and humane, a stark contrast from the divisive and dangerous politics of Donald Trump.”

Notably, Harris, who last visited the border in 2021, faces ongoing criticism from Trump, who has frequently attacked her handling of border policy.

Delhi CM Atishi likely to seek trust vote

The newly-formed government of Delhi, led by Chief Minister Atishi, is expected to seek a vote of trust in the Delhi Assembly today. The two-day assembly session began with a heated exchange of slogans between AAP and BJP leaders, forcing the Speaker to briefly adjourn proceedings on Thursday.

The Delhi Assembly currently has 67 members, as two AAP MLAs were disqualified for joining the BJP, and former Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri was recently elected as an MP from South Delhi.

AAP, which initially won 62 seats in the 2020 elections, now has 58 members due to the disqualification of two MLAs under the anti-defection law, and two more being in jail. Meanwhile, the BJP holds seven seats in the Assembly.

Flipkart, Amazon to begin annual festive sales

E-commerce giants Flipkart and Amazon India are set to launch their annual festive sales today. After offering early access to their paid subscribers on September 26, both platforms will open the sale to all customers.

Flipkart is preparing for high demand, especially for same-day deliveries, and has over 2 lakh product categories available across more than 20 cities as part of its Big Billion Days 2024 event. Meanwhile, Amazon has lined up more than 14 lakh sellers to offer millions of products on Amazon.in. Myntra, Flipkart’s fashion and lifestyle platform, started its sale on September 25.

Alongside discounts on various brands, Amazon is introducing around 25,000 new products from top brands, covering categories like electronics, mobile phones, televisions, appliances, fashion, healthcare, and more.

With inputs from agencies